Tag: vineyard in Tuscany

This is the story of our idea and dream: the new beautiful vineyard.
For reading this story start from the bottom of this post…….and please write your impressions and your emotions!

Have a good reading!

Step 19. August 2018:
New Vineyard is growing – Google Map

From Google Map The New Vineyard in Cappannelle is almost visible.

Our project is taking shape. We are proud of taking care of the beauty of the area. It is a wonderful gift we give to all of us and to future generations.

Step 18. July 2018 :
Vineyard & Wonderful landscape

Renato Bianchi is working in the new vineyard- July 2018

So beautiful our dreaming vineyard

Perfect Vineyard

Vineyard and the tuscan sky

This is Bianchi Renato (83 years old – July 2018) with the passion, ambition and care to have a beautiful vineyard and with the care to protect it from wild boars in the area.

Step 17. June 2018:
Vineyard and its splendor (with roses)

Beautiful roses in the Vineyard in Cappannelle – Castiglion Fibocchi

Vineyard and roses

Vineyard and Castiglion Fibocchi 2018

Beautiful Rose in the Vineyard in Cappannelle

Vine Leaves and Castiglion Fibocchi

What a splendor to see the vineyards with roses.

Our fixed thought is “Beauty will save the world” and also what Prince Leopold of Tuscany thought about Tuscany “functional aesthetics” – the beauty and functionality that coexist together … what an intelligent thing!

Maybe you did not know that …

Besides being an ornamental plant, the rose can perform a preventive function in the vineyards.

According to the common practice it is possible to prevent such diseases by observing a rose plant, placed near the rows (generally it is placed at the head of the rows). In fact, this plant tends to manifest symptoms in advance of the vine itself (about a week before).

The rose, therefore, would have the function of warning the farmer that, acting promptly through treatments based on copper (for peronospora) or sulfur (for oidium), will be able to block the infection in time.

Step 16. 31 December 2017:

Vineyard is sleeping

Vineyard is sleeping in Cappannelle – 31 December 2017

And so the first winter has arrived for our vines ..

Even the vines, like human beings, rest. Winter is the moment when everything stops in nature, preparing for the next spring.

Sh sh sh Silence ..

Now they rest in a deep sleep!

Step 15. October 2017:

Vineyard in Fall

the first vine 1

wow this vine!

perfect vineyard

beauty will save the world

Step 14. September 2017:
Vineyard is growing well

vineyard in october

Proud about our new vineyard in Cappannelle

little vine in good health

Like the puppies cared for with care and love by Renato Bianchi, the small vines are growing very well. We are very proud! Our dream is taking shape.

Step 13. July 2017:
Placing poles and wire metal

poles in metal

perfect vineyard is growing

New vineyard Castiglion Fibocchi Cappannelle House near Fattoria la Vialla

wire metal in the vineyard

Placing poles and wire metal

After planting the plants, we now place the poles and the metal wires to support them for when they are older.

Step 12. June 2017:
Little vines are growing despite the drought

the vines and the drought

Little vines are growing despite the drought

little vines under the tuscan sun

In one of the hottest summers of the century, second only to 2003, the real risk was drought. Fortunately, and thank God for a week after having planted it, a long rain of two whole days has come, saving the vines from drought.

Step 11. May 2017:
Planting new grapevines.

putting the plants

Renato is working

the row of plants

Renato and his helper

Renato in the tractor

Now it’s time to put the plants …. carefully, tidily and in perfect lines. We decided to put a small plant every 80 cm to get a good quality of the grapes. Renato and his helpers worked hardly.

Step 10. April 2017:
New Vine plants arrived

Green Vine Trees

Vine trees in the water

Vine Trees called in italian “Mazzette”

Graziella and the Boxes of Marchi & Volpe with Vine Trees

Vine Trees

Boxes of Marchi & Volpe

In April 2017, kept as if they had been a treasure in gold, diamonds and emeralds, the very precious 11.300 vine plants arrived in a cold store directly from the company Marchi e Volpe.

The entire production process takes place entirely within and under the direct control of the company. The processing is carried out with the utmost care to maintain an optimal health and morphological condition of the cuttings according to the clonal selections from which they derive.

The packing of the cuttings in nylon bags inside stackable cartons and the storage of refrigerated cells inside allows a perfect preservation at constant temperature and humidity. All under the control of public bodies and institutions that ensure the good health status of mother plants and nurseries.

In 2016 with our agronomist Dr. Guido Fatucchi of the Social Winery of Arezzo (Cantina dei Vini Tipici dell’Aretino) we analyzed the organoleptic characteristics of the soil and based on that they identified the typology of vine plants:

ANCELLOTTA 24.8%

SANGIOVESE 75%

MALVASIA 0,1%

TREBBIANO TOSCANO 0,1%

To produce in Castiglion Fibocchi the wine that follows the Chianti Wine DOCG Colli Aretini protocol

Step 9. April 2017:
Ready to Plant

Plowed land before planting the vineyard – Cappannelle April 2017 Google Map

Land with green grass

land and castiglion fibocchi

Land before planting

Plowed land before planting the vineyard –

land in the countryside near castiglion fibocchi

The great moment has arrived ……… The land has been worked divinely. And with great attention all the old vines have been removed and it has been plowed several times ….. it’s spring where everything starts.

Step 8. September 2016:

Last works before planting

Field completely

We leveled the field for the last time before planting the new vines. And now we let sleep the ground for all winter 2016 until spring 2017

Step 7. August 2016:
Deep soil plowing

Part of the job

Mr. Croci is working

Bulldozer

Deep Plowing

the bulldozer in action

Renato and Mr. Croci

Field completely

Renato and Croci are speaking

Field almost ready

Renato checked the work

To ensure greater fertility to the soil of the new vineyard we plowed more than 1 meter deep. Renato had called Mr. Croci an expert in the plowing of vineyards with his big bulldozer and his big coulter.

The purpose of the break is to create conditions of softness, even if temporary, even at a certain depth, so that the roots of the trees expand easily. In fact, in non-broken soil, the roots develop more superficially and the plants are more easily subject to eradication and more susceptible to drought. It is carried out with a super heavy rubberized / crawler agricultural tractor.

An old vineyard that has done a good job for over 40 years is retiring! Now let’s start cutting the old screws. The whole Bianchi family is collaborating. In the front row, Bianchi Renato and then Gianni and Marusca.

Step 0. September 2015:
We have a DREAM: Plant a new Vineyard!

Map of old vineyard September 2015

A day of September 2015, after the last harvest, we decided to plant a new vineyard in the same place where my father in law Renato planted it in 1970.

Bianchi Team in the last Harvest 2015 – Cappannelle

Team Last Harvest 2015 – Cappannelle Farm

GOAL: To Plant new 11.300 vine trees and do a new harvest in September 2019

Wherever man cultivates the vine, there are no real breaks in any time of year. We thought of outline, as far as possible, the activity that is carried out by the winegrower during each of 12 months. We will talk the story of the farm of the Cappannelle Holiday House in Castiglion Fibocchi ,Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy

January
Ii is one of the coldest months; is carried out pruning of vines. In some areas, the traditionalists are beginning to prune the 22 of the month, the day of St. Vincent, patron saint of winemakers. In any case, the work must be completed before the spring vegetative growth.

Vine before pruning

Start pruning

Cutting branch of the vine

Detail of cutting: last cut

Detail of cutting: selection

Detail of cutting: choice

Cutting Action 1

Cutting Action 2

Cutting Action 3

Final result: Pruned vine

Detail of cutting: choiceFinal result: Pruned vine

February
Continue pruning in the vineyard; in some areas may terminate already in this month. Instead, there is much to do in the cellar, where the new wine is maturing. It is necessary for controls meticulous so there are no problems that could damage the wine, sometimes beyond repair.

March
Pruning now coming to an end a little ‘everywhere; in the vineyard is plowing the soil to aerate and remove any weeds. Towards the end of the month, in the most temperate, on the wood of the vine apparently dead, appear the first leaf buds. Start the first show of nature.

April
After the appearance of the gems, starts the growth of leaves, shoots and flower buds, those who later will bear fruit. At this stage we can already understand roughly what will be the amount of product and the period in which vendemmierà. It ‘a delicate stage where any frost or heavy rain can cause millerandage, or where excessive heat and sun can cause the plants to bring more sap in the leaves and in the fruits, causing leaking.

May
In many areas can still very cold and the winemakers resort to fans and heaters to protect the vines from frost; they still work the soil to eliminate weeds. And ‘the period when downy mildew and powdery mildew can damage plants and may need to be treated with fungicides; fertilize the soil.

June
This is the period of pollination and flowering; if the climate is right, dry and warm, there is rapid flowering and appear the first bunches. Depending on the more or less strong climatic variations, may be formed bunches with berries with different degree of ripeness. After flowering, thin out the shoots and the best are attached to the supports. It may still be necessary to treat against powdery mildew.

July
Continue the formation and growth of clusters. Depending on the vine variety, you may have problems at this stage, that fruit set; one of the most delicate grape is Merlot; you need to thin out the bunches to ensure the remaining healthy development and flourishing. There are many wild weeds that it is better to delete. Powdery mildew can still be a threat.

Grapes in July

Vineyard & Castiglion Fibocchi

Suzanne Bianchi (Washington DC) July 2010

August
Now begins the phase called veraison, in which major chemical changes take place inside the berries, which change color; The sugar content increases considerably. And ‘another critical moment in the vineyard: rain and warm, especially in the absence of ventilation, can promote the formation of unwanted molds, while excessive drought may slow the ripening of the grapes. It must work out a good amount of leaves, to promote a better passage of air and a good exposure of the bunches to sunlight.

September
Is made to the chamfer of the branches and green pruning, reducing a certain amount of bunches per plant, in order to concentrate on the remaining energy. This phase can begin, according to the mild climate, even in August. There are still dangers due to rains and drought. In some areas, and for some plants early, may start the harvest.

Harvest in Cappannelle

Party in Cappannelle during the harvest

October
In almost all regions will harvest in quantity. For more grapes later, it may be necessary to wait until the second half of the month to begin the harvest. A collection is finished, the grapes are crushed and the skins, stalks and seeds (pomace) come partly scattered in the vineyard, with natural fertilizers and fertilizers.

Harvest: the laughter party

November
A little ‘everywhere they return the first cold. At this stage it is only the root portion of the plant to be active. It cleans the vineyard and get covered strains screws soil to protect them from winter.

December
The most important, at this stage, is to trade, had the approach of the Christmas holidays. December 6 is put on sale the new wine and prepare the classic Christmas packages. At the end of the month, in many areas has already beginning the winter pruning.